Fight Against Racism: Quebec Satisfied After 5 Years of Action
Lucmane Vieux ·
Quebec publishes its approximately 90-page report on "RACISM IN QUEBEC: ZERO TOLERANCE".
As part of Black History Month, Quebec is publishing its approximately 90-page report on "RACISM IN QUEBEC: ZERO TOLERANCE." This is a "Final Assessment of Progress and Achievements" of the Action Group Against Racism created in December 2020.
The current Minister responsible for the Fight Against Racism, Christopher Skeete, is presenting the report, as most members of the GACR, like Lionel Carmant, have left politics or the CAQ. Former Minister Nadine Girault even passed away today.
"The fight against racism is based above all on a simple but essential conviction: every person must be able to feel fully recognized and respected, regardless of their origin or skin color," states Minister Skeete in his message accompanying the report's publication.
The document specifies that "all 25 actions formulated therein have been completed or are underway."
Some figures
• In total, 11 ministries and organizations (MO) have been responsible for actions to fight racism. • $180M has been invested to implement these actions. • The 25 recommendations targeted priority intervention sectors such as housing, public safety, education and employment.
Of the 25 recommended actions, 12 aim to fight racism affecting First Nations and Inuit. The report strongly highlights improvements in racial profiling, discrimination in housing and employment, particularly the presence of visible minorities on the Boards of Directors of State Corporations.
From approximately 10% in 2020, "the new representation target for visible minorities is 16.6% for the entire public service and 7.1% for management personnel," the report notes. As of October 30, 2025:
• the representation rate for the entire public service for members of visible minorities was 16.1%, equivalent to 96.9% of the 2028 target; • for management personnel, it stood at 8.1%, exceeding the initial target, equivalent to 114.1% of the 2028 target.
Regarding racial profiling, community groups can be pleased with the new directive from the Ministry of Public Safety that now regulates random police stops across Quebec.
"All police officers are prohibited from conducting police stops, including traffic stops under section 636 of the CSR, in an arbitrary manner or based on discriminatory grounds or oblique motives." Point 7 of the Directive.
Coming into force and made public on December 5, 2023, the Directive aims to prevent all forms of racial and social profiling during police stops, including traffic stops conducted under section 636 of the Highway Safety Code (C.s.r.), with the goal of maintaining a high level of public trust in police officers and police forces.
Increase in housing complaints
While the government is succeeding in reducing tension regarding profiling, complaints about discrimination in housing are on the rise, the report deplores. From 1,642 in 2022-2023, the number of grievances climbed to 2,407 last year.
Quebec says it has strengthened the capacities of the Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse (CDPDJ) in handling cases, which has reduced processing times from 13 to 9 months.
The report also discusses work regarding the recognition of diplomas for immigrants.